The lessons began just as they usually did and went similarly ordinarily.
Today they were practicing out on the field again, trying to change the magic circle and make the spell behave in accordance with the students' wishes.
Cyril cast a fireball that flew out in a zigzag pattern before exploding in the air like fireworks.
"Very good. Your understanding of Spell Making is already approaching the expected year-end standards." Their professor, Richard, nodded in satisfaction and soon turned his attention to other students.
With a calm face, Cyril slowly walked back towards his place in the group, his glance falling on the people he was familiar with.
Myra was standing not too far away, softly biting her lip as she focused all her energy on constructing a magic circle. Rose stood near her, observing the attempt with professional curiosity.
In a few more moments, the spell was done, and a fireball flew out.
Gradually it started moving upwards at a higher and higher angle, though it soon destabilized and vanished into nothingness.
Myra stomped in frustration.
"Damn it! Why the hell is it not doing what I want?!" she exclaimed, causing a few glances to go her way. She ignored them.
"Don't worry. Just practice, learn more about magic circles, and you'll do fine," Rose said, in her eyes a barely hidden 'I-told-you-so' look.
"Yeah, yeah, you were right. I should study more diligently."
Rose's smile was no longer hidden. She only nodded and kept quiet.
How could she struggle with such simple spells? Yesterday she used much more impressive magic.
"Just memorizing magic is different from understanding it. Your Myra is, unfortunately for both of us, mentally impaired."
He walked towards the two girls, subtly at Rhamn with complaint on the way.
Noticing his approach, Myra's cheeks flushed a subtle red.
"Creating new spells or changing existing ones is just not my thing!" She quickly gave an excuse, her voice filled with the shame of an adult being unable to solve a children's puzzle.
"…Like I said."
...
The rest of the lesson passed without anything unusual.
He expected the revelation about himself to change everything, but it really didn't. His classmates still sent him wary stares, Myra still behaved overly clingy, Rose was still teaching her, and Rhamn still hated Cedric.
The mundanity of it all was even pleasant.
With a perplexing state of relaxation, he observed the rest of his classmates' performance.
Few people succeeded in today's lesson. All who did wore their noses just a bit higher.
Leo cast a simple fireball that made a loop in the air before striking the ground, which was a comparatively good result.
Afterwards he stared in Myra's direction with a strong, gloating look in his eyes.
He didn't skip lessons today.
"Hope he was robbed in that alley."
"What's up with him?" Myra crossed her arms, her face dark.
"If he is so tough, maybe I should duel him next time..."
Rose helplessly shook her head, then, having tutored Myra enough, began her own attempt.
After a rather complicated magic circle, in her hands appeared a swirling ball of lightning, making quiet crackling sounds.
Few people attempted to cast something other than a fireball, so her attempt garnered attention.
Leo's face slowly returned to the usual frown. With a tsk, he turned his head away.
Rose didn't notice any of the stares around her, instead placing all her focus on the spell.
She flicked her hand, and the lightning ball soon transformed into a short sword, eliciting some awed exclamations from the students.
Rose slashed it a few times in the air. The lightning made a threatening crack with each swing.
Satisfied, she nodded and dissipated the spell, only then to notice the stares she was getting from the other students.
At first alarmed, her face quickly grew calm and seemingly uncaring as she walked towards Myra with steady footsteps.
"I got lucky this time. Anyone can do this with a bit of studying," she said, barely containing a smile on her face.
"Alright, that's enough of a show. Get back to your own spells," Professor Richard finally called out to the students, taking their attention away.
"Impressive, you are going to go far." Myra praised.
"You are pretty good." Cyril nodded in agreement.
Rose's smile widened further, clearly proud of her result.
"What a show-off!" Rhamn appeared in Cyril's view, crossing her arms with displeasure written all over her face. "She had to use a different spell!"
Are you jealous she got everyone's attention?
Rhamn flinched but kept her stance unchanged. "It's impossible for me to be jealous. We are capable of much more," she mumbled with a frown.
It doesn't really matter, does it?
...
After the lessons, Cyril went back home to study.
Opening the door to his dorm, the first thing that greeted him was the flutter of a butterfly's wings.
Morpho was up and about, energetically greeting him back home.
"I am back," Cyril said with a slight smile.
Greeting the cheerful insect, he went to his desk.
Opening the Spell Making book, he sat on the chair and began reading, eager to improve his proficiency with magic.
Rose's attempt remained on his mind. And he would be lying if he said he wasn't feeling at least a little pressured. He did have the first place to maintain.
But he wasn't overly worried. Magic came naturally to him, not even mentioning he had another mind to help him where he would get stuck on his own. Bouncing ideas off another did wonders for progress.
The only thing that stumped him was practice. He just didn't do it too often.
...Casting spells is somewhat unpleasant.
At this moment Rhamn sat on another chair nearby, crossing her legs.
"I have an explanation for that," she said, her voice solemn.
Cyril leaned into the chair, sending her a glance.
"You see, we are superior to a normal human in every way, right? But that comes with a small price."
"Every time I shape your flesh, it consumes mana, but it goes beyond that."
Cyril stayed still, his face unchanged.
There is no benefit in life without a price... a price aside from another entity having control over my life and death.
In Rhamn's eyes a spark of complaint went through, but then only a sigh escaped her mouth.
"So, I am your heart. My beat gives you the life force to go on." Rhamn pinched a strand of her black hair, twirling it.
"And for that beat to happen, it also needs mana."
Cyril sat up straight, staring at her with a frown.
You want to say that if I run out of mana, I will die?
Rhamn slowly nodded while staring to the side.
"Every single second, we are consuming a tiniest bit of mana to keep ourselves alive. I didn't know about it before either! Only after consuming Ambrosia!"
Cyril tiredly massaged his temples.
Rhamn moved a bit in her chair, on her face a stiff smile.
"It's a negligible amount compared to our reserves. Our regeneration rate far exceeds it. You didn't even notice before!"
Cyril stood up from the chair, no longer in the mood to study.
You should've told me earlier... No matter, I just have to get used to this.
Morpho landed on his shoulder. She cheerfully twitched her antennae, radiating positivity.
"Thank you, Morpho."
Cyril stood still for a second, thinking about what to do.
Alright, let's go to the library.
He moved towards the door, his pace quicker than usual.
Let's see if there is any monster with a similar situation to mine. Something that can shapeshift and consumes mana to survive...
Monsters were any creatures affected by mana, their abilities far surpassing those of a common animal. In the Empire, the term also applied to any humanoids beside humans.
"Somehow I don't think you'll find anything. We are too special to be recorded in some dusty old book." Rhamn walked by his side, her head already raised high.
Cyril only sent her a side glance and ignored her completely.
...
Cyril quickly exited his dorm and walked straight towards his target.
On the stone path leading there, he encountered another student going back home.
"Cyril Thorne..." Leo half-exclaimed in surprise.
He reflexively touched his arm, a frown briefly appearing on his face.
Cyril only nodded in response and moved past him.
"Hey, wait," Leo called out and stepped to the side, blocking his path.
"What is it?"
Morpho on his shoulder threateningly twitched her antennae, her body appearing ready to fly out at any moment.
Leo glanced at the butterfly, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Let me properly apologize once more for harming your pet. That was unbecoming of me as a noble."
"Morpho is not a pet."
"Alright, I've accepted your apology. See you tomorrow." Cyril dryly said and started walking again.
I don't really care.
Leo Arken quickly dashed to block his path again, his eyes widened. "No, wait a bit more."
Cyril stood still and sent him a silent stare.
Leo straightened his clothes, cleared his throat, and smiled again. "I am not here for veiled threats or empty promises."
"We are both nobles, bearing important roles in the future, and it would be beneficial for the whole Empire if we kept a friendly relationship, don't you think?"
Leo offered a handshake. "Let's forget about the past or other people. Let's become friends. What do you say?" He said and went silent.
"What's this nonsense about the Empire? As long as we stay safe, it can burn down to the ground. we don't care." Rhamn said, staring at the offered hand in contempt.
"Tell this loser to get lost."
The Empire is our home. I am afraid if it burns, we'll burn with it.
Cyril decided to think about the offer for a little bit more.